O Come, All Ye Lawful | M&D Law Firm Mingle Log

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WHO: James Moriarty and you!
WHERE: M&D Law Firm (located between Poundland and Auguries of Innocence in Brick Alley)
WHEN: December
WHAT: Mingle log! For anyone who wants to make him regret posting his address on main, or holiday shenanigans later in the month
WARNINGS: none so far, will update if necessary

Comments

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[ What sort of person does the name James Moriarty bring to mind? Possibly a sly yet charismatic older man—or at least a composed gentlemen of commanding presence, someone undeniably worthy of the title 'Napoleon of Crime'.

Most people probably don't imagine this James Moriarty, a young man of twenty-five with unruly silver hair and a questionable fashion sense, but that's who ends up opening the door. Sorry, Hugo. ]

Yes, hello?

[ Given the late hour, deducing the identity of his visitor isn't an especially difficult task. Eyes the color of pitch flicker up and down Hugo's figure, taking in the finer details of his appearance and the offering he's carrying before Moriarty smiles, genial. ]

Ah, my vampire friend from the network. You know, I don't think I caught your name actually.

But where are my manners? Come in, come in!

[ He steps back to allow Hugo passage. The office behind him looks surprisingly well lived-in for how recently he arrived. The walls are lined with book-filled shelves; two plush red couches flank either side of a low polished wooden table near the center of the room. There's a large desk near the back wall, likely belonging to Moriarty, considering he's the only one here. ]

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo pressed a hand to his chest, giving the other a bow after the door was opened. Sure, what greeted him was not at all what he thought he was going to see. Moriarty was always described as older and distinguished, if not troublesome. What he was viewing now was as if he were staring into chaos as a seed. This sproutling with the most questionable color combination sense he's seen yet in his city was? Is? Would become?

He was in one stage or another of become The Napoleon of Crime.]

Yes. Pleased to see you face to face.

[ He waits for the invitation, smiling once it was given, crossing inside with a bow of his head. Stepping into that office, the blond took a quick look around the rather lived in office. He took account of how everything was laid out as he approached the table in the middle, setting the basket down. ]

Hugo. Hugo Vlad. A name that wouldn't be familar... Although I find the 'vlad' part ends up being well known due to it's association to other vampires. There is tea and baked goods inside. Please help yourself and think of it as my welcome to you.

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[ Were it actually the older Archer-class James Moriarty standing before him now and not his younger Ruler-class counterpart, he would surely applaud Hugo's keen observational skills. For Hugo's assessment is correct, of course.

Compared to the graceful Ulysses butterfly that serves as his future self's calling card, this version of James Moriarty is closer to an unhatched chrysalis, having not yet reached his full potential—for evil or otherwise. ]

Oho? How generous of you.

Given that we seem to be close in age, I hope you won't mind if I call you Hugo?

You're welcome to call me James in turn, if you'd like—although I'll admit I answer just as quickly to my surname. In fact, I'm called Moriarty more often than not!

[ Moriarty moves over to the left-most of the two red couches and sits down, gesturing to encourage Hugo to take the seat across from him on the other side of the table. ]

Either way, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance properly.

Posting on that app was novel in its own way, considering it was my first time doing anything of the sort, but I think we lose something when reduced to words alone.

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo bows his head with the request, pressing a hand to his chest with a smile. Being close in age was not what he expected at first, but he has come to realize that while this is THAT Moriarty, This seems to be before all of that messy business that earned him his name. Hugo was more than aware with diversions in one's life that brings out different outcomes than intended. ]

Oh, please do. In turn, I will do such. It is far friendlier to address one another casually. It is nice to have met and had this cemented in person.

[ Hugo does oblige, stepping over with grace to lower himself into the seat across from Moriarty and lowering himself to sit. With his hands folded in his lap for the moment, he tipped his head up, looking across the way to The other, nodding in agreement. ]

I must agree. It's a wonderful tool for gathering information and knowledge, but there's far too much of a trail left by such. I prefer being able to disappear when necessary.

That's why talks like this are much more preferred. You can learn a lot by the way someone carries themselves while they talk that digital ways simply can't compare to.

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I couldn't agree more!

Truthfully, I wasn't particularly keen about the idea of putting my face online for all to see. You never know when that sort of information might be used against you.

[ Promoting his law firm wasn't the only reason he chose to de-identify his username and use a picture of M&D's plaque rather than a picture of his face for his profile.

Even in life, he was secretive by nature. That paranoia would follow him quite strongly into his later years; quite famously, very few people had any idea of what the criminal mastermind James Moriarty actually looked like. ]

Although I will say, I was a little surprised at how negatively my post was received?

I thought positioning myself as a lawyer would go over better than announcing myself as a future criminal mastermind to all and sundry, but apparently not!

[myriadeclipse]

[ Hugo looked off to the side with a bob of his head. That made sense to him. Moriarty was in more of a position where he had to be careful of what he did and what people could be used against him for legal reasons. At the same time, he was so sure this was just how lawyers did business. He could use plausible deniability in that he was the same 'James Moriarty' that did the things people associate the name with. ]

Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about them. Many odd things happen in this city and Who knows what any of them were thinking when they saw a lawyer cross the feed. Continue to let them get to know you and I feel things will go just fine.

But you are right on that point. They might feel more at ease knowing you are a future criminal who isn't going to throw the legal book at them. I must admit, I came because I admire the man you'll become, and for that reason, willingly walking into a law office is a rather eccentric thing for a person like me to do.

I feel like I'm rambling. You'll make friends yet, James. Give them time.